Machine for cleaning book covers and the like



H. ERICKSON MACHINE FOR CLEANING BOOK COVERS AND THE LIKE Feb. 26 1924.

Filed-April 22. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 63%?03 wimarfinieMam.

H. ERICKSON MACHINE FOR CLEANING BOOK COVERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 22. 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. ERflCKf-SON MACHINE FOR CLEANING- BOOK COVERS AND THE LIKE Filed April 22. 1921 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 23, 192%.

STATE HJ'ALMAR ERIGKSON, 0F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOB CLEANING 380K COVERS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed !r ri1 22, 1921. Serial No. %63,624.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, Hanna ran ERICKSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Machines for Cleaning Book Covers and the like, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a machine for finishing and cleaning articles which have been inscribed or ornamented with stamped designs of artificial gold or similar color media. Such work is commonly used on book covers or casings and the machine here shown is particularly designed for finishing such covers after the stamping operation. A considerable amount of the artificial gold adheres to the face of the cover at points exterior to the design and must be removed and by mechanism such as here described this operation' is rapidly and efficiently performed.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the following description of one particular mechanical embodiment of the principles thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation as seen from the right in the other figures; and

Fig. is an end view on an enlarged scale of a book cover such as the machine is adapted to operate on.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the machine here shown is organized on a suitable base 5 along one side of which extends the standard 7 which supports on one side a frame-work 9 overhanging the base 5. This standard 7 may also support the bracket 11 which carries a power shaft 13 adapted to be driven by a pulley l5 and herein also a shelf-like bracket 17 supporting an auxiliary frame-work 19 for certain of the component mechanisms as hereinafter described.

In the example of my invention here shown the book cover or casing is fed over a suitable work support or table and acted upon by cleaning devices carried by the overhanging frame 9. Referring to Fig. 2 the work passes through the machine from right to left and may be first acted upon by a rotary brush 21, preferably having spirally arranged series of bristles as shown, which removes dust and dirt and the looser particles of the gold. From the brush 21 it passes to a series of rubbing devices and I have herein shown four such devices 23 which may be in the form of rollers. The rubbing devices are formed or faced with any suitable material adapted to give a rubbing or abrading action of the desirable intensity. The rollers 23 shown in the illus trated example of the invention are made up of a series of rubber (caoutchouc) disks 25 alternating with smaller spacing washers 27 threaded on a suitable spindle 29 and secured by a nut 31. The disks 25, made of any suitable rubber compound such as is used for erasers, present a plurality of relatively narrow rubbing edges to the work. The rubbing devices are given a compound motion over the work both longitudinally and transversely thereof and herein this is effected by rotating the same and at the same time reciprocating or oscillating the rollers axially. Herein the brush 21 and the rollers 23 extend transversely of the path of the work and are journalled in the side members of the overhanging frame 9. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that one end of each shaft or spindle 29, the upper in that figure, telescopes in its journal 32 and the other end is feathered at 33 in a gear 35 journalled in the standard plate 7. The gears 35 mesh as shown in Fig. 1 and one of these gears may be driven by gear37 from the power shaft 13. The succession of rubbing rollers 23 are by this means rotated in opposite directions in contact with the work. To reciprocate the rollers 23 the ends of the shafts shown at the bottom in Fig. 2 may be ex tended and provided with grooved collars 39 fixed thereto with which collars cooperate the yoke shaped ends of oscillating levers ell in the manner of the well known clutch shifting lever. In the present example of the invention there are four rollers 23 and two levers 41, each operating apair of adjacent rollers and reciprocating them in opposite phase. Motion of the levers may be effected in any convenient manner. I have shown them as mounted centrally on vertical shafts 43 stepped in the shelf-like bracket 17 and in an overhanging bracket 45 and to the ends of the shafts 4.3 projecting above the bracket 45 are attached levers 47 which in the present instance are connected by the link 49 so that the two levers may be operated as a unit. The levers are oscillated by a connecting rod 51 attached to the adjustable wrist pin 53 of a crank wheel 55 driven by a gear 57, as best illustrated in Fig. 1, from one of the gears 35. It will be understood that as the crank wheel 55 revolves the levers 49 will be oscillated in a horizon-- tively to the rubbing rollers which are stationary. Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, th work support here illustrated consists of a suitable table 65 carried by the fixed flange 67 andthe removable flange 69 of a plate 71 which is adjustably supported on the base 5 by means of a plurality of threaded posts 73 received in nuts 75 journalled in the base 5. On the nuts 7 5 are mounted suitable sprocket wheels 77 with all of which cooperates a chain 79 which may be driven by a sprocket 81 carried by hand wheel 83. It will be clearly understood that movement of the hand wheel will rotate all the nuts 77' and "elevate plate 71 and consequently the table 65, maintaining the table constantly in a horizontal plane. I

It will be understood that the table is adjusted in to such proximity to the rubbing rollers 23 that the work placed on the table will be acted upon by the rollers with desired pressure. To feed the work forward for action of the rubbing element's thereon suitable feeding means are provided. The rubbing devices 23 should move relatively to the work instead of merely moving with it in its feeding travel, and it will be noted that in the example of the invention shown 7 certain of the rollers 23 even oppose the passage of the work. This is desirable if they are to rub off the gold therefrom by their motion relative thereto instead of perhaps merely aiding in feeding the work forward by friction without relative longitudinal motion and consequent rubbin off of the gold. In the present instance ee Fig.

3) the flanges 67 and 69 provide bearings for a number of feed'rolls 85, the upper faces of which project up through the work support or table 65. These rolls may be provided with sprockets 87 connected by a book.

chain and the roll at the left has a sprocket 88 with which cooperates a chain driven (see Fig. 2) by a driving sprocket 89 which takes its motion through a suitable train of reduction gearing 91 from the shaft of the crank wheel 55, The driving sprocket 89 is, of course, fixed on the stationary standard 7, but this driving connection permits of the desired adjustment of the work support vertically. To hold the work to the driving rolls 85 opposed idler rolls 93 may be provided, the journals (see F ig. 1) 95 of these rolls being mounted for vertical sliding movement in the side members of the frame 9 and being pressed down toward the driven rolls 85 by means of springs 97. Threaded rods 99 project upwardly from the journal boxes and provide for adjustment of the pressure by means of the nuts 101.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a book cover such as the machine is particularly designed to operate on, comprising the side boards 8 and the cloth cover a, the two side boar s being connected by the portion b of the cover which forms the back of the bound Usually the cloth is stamped over one of the sides 8 and along the back 79. To support the back 6 for operation of the rubbing elements thereon, a portion of the table is made adjustable so that it may be raised beyond the level of the rest and enter the space between the two boards 8 and support the back 6 in the plane of the sides. Herein (see Fig. 3) flanges 103 on the plate 71 have adjustably mounted thereon the brackets 105 which may be vertically moved by set screws 1'07 and these brackets serve tosupport a removable table section 109 some what above the level of the rest of the table 65, as shown in Fig. 3, to support the flexible back I) of the book cover in the plane of the sides so that one of these sides and the back may be simultaneously acted upon by the rubbing'devices. To facilitate the passage of the book cover through the machine and prevent the flexible back from being by any possibility displaced the supporting surface 109 for the back may be in the form of a continuous strip (see Fig. 2) extending from one end of the machine to the other, the feed rolls 85 being suitably grooved at 111 (Fig. 3) to receive this strip. The brackets 105 are of sufficient width to accommodate various sizes of supporting strips 109 to suit the particular work at hand.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is preferable to extend the table 65 at some distance at the intake side of the machine to facilitate the insertion of the covers.

By reference to Fig. 3 it will be clear that, since the frame 9 overhangs the table from the one side thereof, the left hand side in that figure, and since the rubbing devices and pressure rolls 9?; support-e by said chine substantially in the plane of the table 65, there being no. standard? on thatside.

Consequently although the machine may be relatively narrow in width it will .accommodate various sizes of covers; Ordinarily the front cover and the back of' the book are stamped and the back cover does not. need cleaning but may project out from the open space to the side of the machine as will be. clearly understood from Fig. 3 particularly by observing the position of thestrip 109 which supports the back of the cover or casing. It will also be clear that the adjustment ofthe parts is effected as a whole by adjustment of the table and of the rolls 85 moving with it,the whole being effected bythe hand wheel 83. There will be no need of: separately adjusting the various rubbing devices and for ordinary purposes the resilient mounting of" the pressure rolls 93 will accommodate them to'the work.

I will next describe briefly the operation of the particular machine shown in the drawings as an example of my invention. Referring to Fig. 3, a book cover as shown in Fig. 4: is inserted in this end of the machine, the front cover of the book resting on the table and the back I) being supported in the same plane as the outside of the cover by the support section 109 which has been properly adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the boards .9. The entire work support with the feed rolls is vertically adjusted to provide for proper pressure on the work of the vertically fixed rubbing rollers 23 as the work passes through the machine and proper tension is applied to the springs 97 so that the driven rolls 85 and the opposed idler rolls 93 will grip the cover to feed it forward through the machine from right to left, viewing Fig. 2. The book cover passing through the machine is first cleaned by the rotary brush 21 and then is acted upon successively by the rubber disks 27 on the rollers 23. These disks rotate in contact with the work and in the example shown the disks of successive sets rotate in opposite directions and the speed of rotation is different from the feeding speed of the work so that a true rubbing action is effected. During their rotation the disks are oscillated axially of the rolls so that no partof the cover is skipped and a compound rubbing movement over the cover of the narrow edge of the disks is effected which is very effectual for loosening and removing the superfluous stamping material which it is desired to remove.

A' transverse shaft 113 provided with a hand wheel 115 and a gear 117 meshing with one of the gears 35 may be provided. to

permitth'e machineto-be' turned over by hand when desired.

Having thus described in detail the particular form of my. invention shown by way of examplein the accompanying drawings the principles exemplified thereby which li claim as new and desire to secure by Lettersi Patent 1 shallexpress in the following to givesaid devices rolling rubbing motions in opposite directions to bend, break and lift the surplus leaf.

2. A machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the devices are simultaneously reciprocatedtransversely of the work.

3. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf fromstampedbook covers and the like comprising a work support, means for advancing the work over the support and'a plurality of rubbing devices operating on the work as'itadvances, each contacting with the work along a narrow transverse zone, and means simultaneously to reciprocate said devices transversely of the work and to give them a rubbing rolling motion to bend, break and lift the surplus leaf.

4. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a vertically adjustable table to support the work, feed rollers projecting therethrough and moving with the table and a frame projecting above the table and carrying opposed feed rollers and driven rubbing devices for operating on the work.

5. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a vertically adjustable table to support the work, feed rollers projecting therethrough and moving with the table, a standard projecting atone side of the table, opposed feed rollers and driven rubbing devices supported by said standard in overhanging relation to said table to provide an open space at the other side between the table and said supported elements whereby to accommodate covers of various widths and permit the back cover to project loosely at the side of the machine.

6. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a work support, driven cleaning devices opposing said support and overhung from a side of the support and means for advancing the work over the support, the whole assembly presenting along one side an unobstructed space substantially in the plane of said support whereby the machine may operate on covers of different width and the back cover may project through said space to the side of the machine.

7 A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a vertically adjustable table to support the work, feed rollers projecting therethrough and moving with the table, a. portion carried by said table and adjustable relatively thereto for supporting in the plane of the sides a book cover which is placed on the table, and a frame projecting above the table and carrying opposed feed rollers and driven rubbing devices for operating on the work.

8. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a vertically adjustable table to support the work, feed rollers projecting therethrough and moving with the table, brackets vertically adjustable relatively to said table, and a removable longitudinal strip carried thereby for supporting in the plane of the sides a book cover which is placed on the table, and a frame projecting above the table and carrying opposed feed rollers and driven rubbing devices for operating on the work. 9. A machine of the class described com prising a table and a feed roller journalled beneath the table and projecting therethrough, a frame, a pressure device carried by said frame opposing the roll, a rubbing device carried by the frame opposite the table, said table and frame being relatively vertically adjustable and'means for driving said roller and rubbing device, and said table being provided with a relatively adjustable portion for supporting in the plane of the sides the back of a book cover which is placed on the table.

10. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf from book covers and the like comprising a support over which the cover is advanced and driven rubbers moving with a compound longitudinal and transverse movement relatively to the surface of the cover as it isadvanced.

11. A machine for cleaning surplus leaf- HJALMAR ERICKSON. 

